2020/2021

2020/2021

DM270

SPS/14 (HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS OF ASIA)

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

AFRICAN AND ASIAN STUDIES

PERCORSO COMUNE

1°

1st semester (28/09/2020 - 11/12/2020)

6

40 lesson hours

Italian

ORAL TEST

PANCINI ANDREA (titolare) - 6 ECTS

None. A general knowledge of ancient and medieval Japanese history is recommended, but not mandatory.

The aim of this course is to highlight the diversity of Japanese society and the complexity of globalization processes of modern and contemporary Japan, from Tokugawa or Edo period (1600-1868) to the present. Focusing on social and cultural history while reviewing the main points of the country's political history, the learners will investigate also issues regarding social minorities. At the end of the course the students will acquire a general but solid knowledge of modern and contemporary Japanese social history, and of the plurality of its cultures.

Tokugawa's order (1600-1800)
Western imperialism in East Asia (1800-1900)
The collapse of the old system (1800-1867)
The "Meiji transformation" (1868-1900)
The rise of a new mass society (1900-1930)
The Great War and US occupation (1931-1952)
Contemporary Japan (1953-2000)

Lecture-style lessons with slides and seminar-style lessons: during the course students will be required to participate actively through group and/or individual assignments.

Tipton, Elise K; (2011), "Il Giappone moderno: una storia sociale e politica", Torino, Einaudi. (Main textbook, also available in English as "Modern Japan".)

Walthall, Anne; (2005), “Japan: A Cultural, Social and Political History”, Boston, Houghton Mifflin. (Further reading, not mandatory.)

Harding, Christopher; (2020), “Giappone: storie di una nazione alla ricerca di se stessa, dal 1850 a oggi”, Milano, Hoepli. (Individual and group assignments will be based on this text. Also avalaible in English as "Japan Story: In Search of a Nation, 1850 to the Present")

Oral examination